Here's a test for long-term couples who are fans of the horror genre: Get comfortable with your significant other and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard body horror, but inside Together lies a deep examination about how we choose to love one another.
An Introductory Film Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when Tim and Millie transition from the big city to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists discover an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying horror experience, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He is terrified of the concept of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
The couple confront the kind of problems that arise in any relationship a decade in. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory does not come across as clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, some couples having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your other half and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on Hulu as of this moment.
